HELP FOR OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15393, 25 September 1915, Page 13

HELP FOR OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

APPEAL TO TOWN AND COUNTRY RESIDENTS. BY THE CANTERBURY PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. In making this appeal v> ail residents of North Canterbury, the committee of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund wish it to be clearly understood tba-t in the earlier stages of this great war, in deference to the cry of the starving Belgians, and the popular sympathy displayed for our gallant Allies, it wa& decided not to actively push the claims of the fund. But now, with the casualty lists assuming large and still larger proportions, surely there is no claim before you that can exceed that of our own soldier, who is wounded, maimed, or incapacitated—perhaps for life—while fighting for you and for the Empire; equal with it is that of the soldier's widow and his fatherless children: and next to it, is tho claim ot the returned soldier who is debilitated or lacks employment, and who must bo eared for until health and occupation render him again independent ot your assistance.

The Patriotic Fund is. the medium through which this must be done, and yon have the right and privilege to subscribe the money required. Tlie Government pension, which ;s the most liberal in the world, is, in spite of its liberality, only sufficient to provide for the bare necessaries of life. The duty of providing comforts rests with us as individuals; the duty of assisting cases outside the Pensions Act is demanded of us. The necessity for the Patriotic Funds has been made abundantly clear both by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence in the House of Representatives and e'sewhere.

It is difficult to estimate the total amount required for these objects but, at the Conference of Patriotic Societies recently held in Wellington, opinions woro freely expressed that threo-quah-tors of a million pounds would be theabsolute minimum. How great the need for the fund is may be judged from the fact that the casualties of our men to-day have reached the extraordinary total of 6138—0r more than one casual tv to every three men fighting. The fund has already been called upon to assist in maintaining 69 families of men at the front. totaUine 212 women and children; and, in addition, is rendering and monetary a'd to returned invalided soldiers, besides providing an employment bureau for returned soldiers anxious.to obtain employment. The area covered by the Canterbury Patriotic Fund extends from the Rakaio river on the south un to. and including the Amuri and Cheviot counties on the north. On the basis that £750.000 is required for the Dominion, this district should contribute £100.000. The amount already subscribed is £27.000, to be raised £73.000. Wellington, Otago, and South Canterbury .have already subscribed more than their proportions, and Auckland is rapidly raising its quota. North Canterbury 6tands alone in having so far failed to do its share._ Otago has raised 20s per head of its poDulation. Wellington has raised 15s per head of its population. South Canterbury 17s 6d per head of its population. North Canterbury 4s per head of it 3 population. To remove any existing confusion, it is necessary to state that the activities ! of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund aro quite distinct from those of the Cross Fund. By agreement, the spheres of work have been so arranged that tho Bed Cross deals with cases while in hospital at the' front, and provides coml forts for soldiers in our local hospitals, after which the Patriotio Fund is the only local fund to which the men can look to for assistance. The work of the Red Cross will end with the war, while that of the Patriotic Fund will have to continue for many , years. Therefore, while urging you to oontinue your contribution to the noble work of the Red Cross Society, w© would also urge you to make still further efforts and contributions to the Patriotic Fund, recognising. as you must, its greater and more lasting needs. In some country districts it is suggested that local committees should retain their own funds and look after their own men. This can only be done at the grave risk of inflicting hardship and misfortune on the voiy men it is desired to assist. The only way to make sure that the men will receive a sufficient allowanco for the whole period they require it is to accumulate one big* fund and so spread the risks on tho same principle as is done in the case of firo or life insurance. Not only is adequate representation on the Executive of the Fund given to all districts desiring it, but the Executive Commits toe desires such representation to enablo it to keep in close touch with all cases requiring its assistance throughout North Canterbury. It is probable that some districts will have the misfortune to suffer much heavier casualties than others, and it is reasonable to assume that the funds_ of such districts may not be in a position to meet the demands made upon_them.. It may be possible to raise additional sums of money while the war i& in progress, Jbut when it is over, and in the long years to come in which the men will requiro help, experience shows that the money would not be subscribed, and the men—will suffer. Our soldiers do not enlist to fight for a town or district, or any particular section of the community; they enlist to fight for our Dominion, and it is bv the Dominion that they should bo cared for. Tho advantage pf amalgamating with the Central Fund is entirely on the side of the oountry. because tho. density of the population has enabled the cities to raise a much greater amount in proportion to population than has been the case in the oountry. The committee, while appreciating to the fullest the efforts of those who are raising sums by such means as street collections, carnivals, etc., reoogmsos tliat the bulk of the money must be raised bv voluntary contributions, which need not necessarily be paid in one sum but may extend over some definite period. In South Canterbury, in response to a public appeal, and without personal canvass, over £20,000 was contributed- in amounts of from £1000 down t<> £50- . . , „ , _ . In our own district of burv there are many hundreds of men who could subscribe from £0000 to £100 out of ordinary income without feeling its loss. The war has brought enormous additional profits to the growers of wool, frozen meat, and other products of the land, and wo appeal to those benefiting to give to the wounded and maimed soldiers a portion of the extra wealth which has been derived solelv from the Empire's peril, to avert which their brothers are nobly sacrificing their health, limbe, and' evch *"you are urged to let your thoughts and actions expand on this vital matter- make vour contributions as generous' as the* limit of your means will allow; act so that vou can retain your self-re6pect and look" the returned soldier in the face with the knowledge that von have discharged your duty to the of vour ability, even as he has BO nobly discharged h» duty. H HOLLAND, Chairman, B. T. TOSSWTLL, Secretary, ' Canterbury Patriotic Fund. " 4